So what is the Punchline, exactly?
Francis Porier was a circus performer in the late 1940s, until one day when he tried to save an innocent acrobat from the clutches of a scorned fortune teller who was performing a sacrificial ritual to gain arcane power. He failed to save the victim
recommended psychics of the horrendous ceremony and was corrupted into a supernatural monster cursed to roam the Earth feeding on the fear of others. He has lived for years roaming the southern United States until fate led him north to the city of Detroit. As one of the survivors of the destruction of the city, he has found new meaning in his life, and now works with Respond and Protect as a law enforcement agent. He uses his unnatural powers to defend the innocent, and to make their tormentors feel the pain and fear of these victims.
He constantly fights against an affliction that threatens to take his humanity away forever. He must learn to fight the "fear addiction" and to use his abilities for the good of mankind. If he let his power run unchecked he could become a force of great ill for himself and anyone around him. Thankfully, with the help of other heroes, this is not a battle he has to face alone.
His arch-nemesis, the immortal "Valphazar the All-Seeing" is constantly on the hunt for our hero, looking to take back the power that he believes was stolen from him when his sacrificial ritual was disrupted all those years ago. The mad mystic has signed pacts with demons, stolen artifacts, and forged new rituals all for the sake of capturing the cursed clown. When Punchline and Valphazar meet, expect a battle of primal eldritch forces in the grudge match of the century!
Who Are His Allies and Alliances?
Respond and Protect
Respond and Protect had taken on the cursed clown as a law enforcement agent until July 2010, when he decided to leave the organization to pursue his own interests. Working with Respond and Protect had given a new purpose in life, as well as shown him what true heroism is all about. If it wasn't for the brave men and women of Respond and Protect, who knows what Punchline may have become out there on his own?
"Know someone that could be an ally for our greasepainted friend? Drop me a line on the CORP forums, or in game!" -@Punchline
The Power of the Punchline!
Punchline's powers are a blessing and a curse, depending on what he is trying to do at the time. He has a "Terror Aura" that can never be turned off completely, but can be suppressed through a force of will and the absorption of "empathic energy". Empathic Energy is the energy of base emotions such as fear and hatred. He can use the empathic energy he absorbs to build up his strength, boost his physical durability, and to suppress or expand his Terror Aura. As far as anyone currently knows, there is no way to suppress or lock out this affliction permanently. This is a common attribute of many powerful mystical curses.
Punchline's Abilities
- Terror Aura - Causes anything from mild apprehension to pure terror and hallucinations, depending on how much energy he has stored.
- Empathic Energy - Automatically drains the essence of others most base emotions. (i.e. Fear, Rage, Hatred, etc.)
- Clawed Appendages - His hands and feet are larger than usual, and every digit ends in a 1-2 inch claw.
- Acrobatic Talents - Years of Acrobatic Training during his time as a Circus Performer has paid off.
- Slowed Aging - Seems to be roughly half his age, in appearance and in non-empowered physical prowess. Actual life expectancy is unknown.
Punchline's Weaknesses
- Ramping Powers - His physical prowess, such as strength and agility, matches a baseline human until he absorbs Empathic Energy.
- Uncontrolled Power - His aura can never be turned off completely, only suppressed through concentration.
- Explosive Overload - He absorbs Empathic Energy to a limit and has to vent it through combat, or it overloads his aura into a "Horror Storm".
- Self-Destructive Power - He must absorb a certain amount of empathic essence daily, or the curse begins to consume him.
- Monstrous Appearance - He always has purple eyes, burn scarred skin skin, and clawed appendages.
Editor's Note: It's debatable if the last item is truly a weakness. This is a man who dresses up like a "scary clown" on purpose, after all.
Read more about the story of Punchline!
Here are the original stories written about the cursed clown. They run in episodic format and the first story arc is about the origin of Punchline, from his early days as a circus performer to signing up with Respond and Protect. The further adventures take it from there and show what happens after he becomes a superhero and a law enforcement officer.
The Origninal Five-Story Arc: "Punchline the Cursed Clown!"
Issue #1 - "Not Exactly the Greatest Show on Earth!"
Life as a circus performer can be interesting, no doubt. There's the travel, a community of close friends and coworkers, and a general feeling of family. Of course every family's got it's one black sheep. Find out what happens when you make the maniacal mystic mad in this first story of Punchline ‑ The Cursed Clown!
(Read it now!)Issue #2 - "Thrills, Chills, and Stolen Wills!"
No good deed goes unpunished and nothing lasts forever. If anyone knows this, it's Francis Porier. Find out about how one unlucky circus performer became a supernatural powerhouse! See what happens when the one he hates most gets that power as well! Tonight, the Big Top burns in the second adventure of Punchline ‑ The Cursed Clown!
(Read it now!)Issue #3 - "Boxcars and Billboards"
Life isn't easy when you're homeless, on the road, and sweat liquid fear. Trains, trucks, and worn soles take our hero across the southern states as he tries to find new meaning in his life. Read on to find out how he gets by and more about the affliction that is threatening his very sanity in the third adventure of Punchline ‑ The Cursed Clown!
(Read it now!)Issue #4 - "Nothing to Fear, but Fear Myself!"
West Side Detroit might not be the easiest place to live, but at least now our hero has a roof over his head and a job to keep him busy. That don't mean things are going easy for him though, for when you got an addiction every moment is just filler until you get another taste. Read what happens when power runs unchecked in the third adventure of Punchline ‑ The Cursed Clown!
(Read it now!)Issue #5 - "Greasepaint and Government Blues!"
Sometimes you just have to run, but that don't make it any easier on your conscience. From the ashes of Detroit rises the city of the future, Millennium City! Francis Porier is ready to start the next chapter in his life. Does he have what it takes to be a functioning member of society again? Find out in the final chapter of Punchline ‑ The Cursed Clown!
(Read it now!)
The Further Adventures of Punchline:
Issue #6 - "Playing the Mambo on Piano!"
"Well, that's one less villain on the streets, and one less piano in the world!"
Want to know what that's all about? Well come back another time to read about a day in the life of Punchline! - Coming Soon!
Issue #7 - "He Who Sees All, Will Seize Everything!"
"It was mine... I had it right in my grasp, and that clown... THAT CLOWN, STOLE IT!"
Want to know what that's all about? Well come back another time to read a message from Valphazar the All-Seeing! - Coming Soon!
Trivia & Rumors
Out of Character
- The original plan was to make a "good man, with evil powers", instead of the "powers decide alignment" concept often seen in comics.
- Also while reformed villains are quite common in comics, Punchline was an attempt at making a "reformed anti-hero" character.
- The character design for Punchline was inspired by a clown in a 1964 Camel Cigarettes advertisement, and Stephen King's IT.
- The name "Punchline" came from a big list of comedic words. Some other possibilities were "Pratfall", "Slapstick", and "The Stooge".
In Character Truths
- Punchline has no control over what other people see when he makes them hallucinate! The things they say can be very amusing.
- Punchline moved up to Canada a few times to dodge the draft, until he was too old to be eligible for it. Usually went to Quebec.
- Punchline never went to high school or college. He was an avid reader though; his favorite author is John Irving.
- Punchline does not usually take time to listen to music, but he sometimes enjoys 1940s-era "Big Band" music.
In Character Falsehoods
- Punchline will eat you if you go to sleep! ( That's so not true... or is it? Crunch, Crunch, SLUUUURP! )
- Punchline is a killer! ( No... he actually has never killed anyone. )
- Punchline is an anti-hero! ( He was an anti-hero. Get with the times! )
More to come! See below if you want to add some more Trivia & Rumors to Punchline's backstory!
Opinions of His Peers
This is your chance to write what YOUR character would say to a reporter if asked, "So, tell me about Punchline."
Speak from either your character's personal experience with him, or from what they would have seen in the press. Be creative! If you use a press story or tabloid just make up whatever you think works. I'll roll with it... and if I can't, well they could be wrong about Punchline anyways! If you say it was in the papers, then it was! Punchline's at your collective mercy folks, but remember, I'm putting the good ones in "Trivia & Rumors"! ~ @Punchline
"Nice guy... I would Hire him to be part of Carnival but... I Don't think Eleanor would like him... She has clown issuses that she is working on... We have lost too many already. But Yeah Nice guy." - Morris
